Sip in style

Earthkeepers Otiake Blend #1 2013

Here's a gorgeously floral, delicately structured blend of pinot gris, riesling and gewurztraminer grown in the Waitaki Valley, one of the most unforgiving wine regions in the country.

Aromas of crushed shells, lemon pith, nashi pear, lychee, guava and white peach all lead to a juicy, spice-driven, richly textured and rather moody, magical wine. It looks as brooding and mysterious as it tastes.

Merry-go-round ponies scampering on a pale blue background? Who can resist? "Padrillos" means "stallion" in Spanish, named after the wild herds that appeared in the dreams of Argentine winemaker Ernesto Catena.

Made from from organic vineyards owned by the Hutchison family, this blend of 60 per cent Marlborough chardonnay and 40 per cent Central Otago pinot noir is a rich, nutty, citrus-edged sparkling that has beautiful, biscuity complexity on the finish.

Fine and elegant, it's a magic methode that tastes as it looks.

Sip with salmon blinis.

Yvonne Lorkin is a wine retailer, wine writer and member of the Wine Writers of NZ.

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Dedicated to food and wellbeing, Bite is the New Zealand Herald's weekly food magazine. With a new theme each week, Bite offers recipes and kitchen tips contributed by some of New Zealand's most talented cooks and chefs. Bite magazine is supported by this mobile-friendly website with over 10,000 recipes, cooking advice, articles, competitions and food-related news.